Any tips for writing poetry?

[xuchu5]

Hi there.

I've lost interest in many of my hobbies except reading (even video games just bore me now and only serve to speed up the long lonely weekends) and I want to try my hand at writing poetry.
I've never written a poem before and tbh I don't know that much about poetry, but I've read some really good and thought provoking ones here in the "express yourself" section and it seems there are some really good poets here.

So any tips? How do I plan out a poem? Does it have to rhyme or can it be free verse? Do the verses all have to be the same length? and if it does rhyme, does there have to be a pattern (don't know how to explain this well)?

Any help is welcome.

 

[SkuzzieMuff]

Step 1: Obtain writing utensil.
Step 2: write thoughts and feelings.
Step 3: ????
Step 4: PROFIT!!!

 

[evanescencefan91]

It doesn't have to rhyme the rules are all up to you,
Though if you want to try check out certain rhythms with stanzas you can maybe try checking out some begining guides to poetry online
Other than that just go for it and write whatever you think sounds cool